The Wayne American Legion Juniors dug themselves into a five-run hole early in the game and couldn’t quite come back as they dropped a 10-8 decision to Yankton in a nine-inning game Tuesday at Hank Overin Field.
The visitors scored five runs in the opening frame to take the lead for good. Wayne got a run in the first inning when Tanner DeBoer doubled home Jacob Kneifl after Kneifl reached on a single and moved to second on a balk.
Yankton led 6-1 when Wayne made its first run at the visitors in the fifth. Sacrifice flies by Kneifl and Hagan Miller brought home Tyrus Eischeid and Kaleb Anderson, and Wayne made it 6-4 when DeBoer brought Josh Lutt home with a single to center.
Yankton came back with four in the top of the sixth to make it 10-4, but Wayne got two back in the bottom of the inning on Miller’s double to left, scoring Lutt and Blake Bartos. Wayne would get two more in the eighth on a two-run single by DeBoer, but could get no closer as they fell to 6-4 on the season.
DeBoer had three hits and four RBI’s and Kneifl and Reid Korth both had two hits to highlight an 11-hit attack. Miller had three RBI’s and Lutt and Kneifl each scored two runs. Kneifl took the loss on the mound.
Wayne plays at Wisner on Wednesday and Tekamah on Friday before competing in the Wood Bat Tournament this weekend in Wayne and Wakefield.
